2024 Pro thread

[maquisard]

The alleged TdF for next year. It seems very traditional.

Surely not? 1997 called and they want their first week back!

My thoughts also - it seems a classic Jean-Marie Leblanc parcours. In other words, boring.

I would like to see more use of the Vosges, Bauges, Chartreuse or Vercors medium mountain stages and less boring flat.

[Karvalo]

I would like to see more use of the Vosges, Bauges, Chartreuse or Vercors medium mountain stages and less boring flat.

Send in your CV!

I get that there have been a few lean years for the sprinter's union to lobby against, but they had 8 stages this year even without the Champs Elysees, and spread out much better for the rythm of the race. 10 flat stages and a whole opening week where nothing important happens except crashes would be a heck of an overreaction.

[maquisard]

It looks very awful after the early excitement of the Galibier this year and then the gravel stages. Those allowed us to look past the boredom of flat stages which were obviously present to give options for Cavendish.

[tymon_tm]

...meanwhile Neilson Powless did a Pogacar at Gran Piemonte winning with a solo 40km-long move

[Karvalo]

Speaking of which, when will Pog attack? Barring any serious misfortune it seems amost guaranteed that he'll be alone over the Sormano. But will it be because he attacked on it, or will he get bored earlier on and go clear over the Ghisallo with 80k+ to go? ; p

[spud]

Pidcock deselected for Lombardia. Seems very strange after getting 2nd at dell'Emilia - the form seems to be solid, on a course that suits him. Who on Ineos is going to be better than him? Maybe they are sending a message about being a team player..

[maquisard]

Ineos seems to be in a meltdown.

If the team ceases in the next few years it will be no surprise.

[MichaelK]

Why would Ineos fold? It's some major sportswashing for them. I don't know if Ratcliffe can keep all his projects spinning at once, when Utd are in better shape he might focus on cycling again.

[maquisard]

Radcliffe is shrewd and doesn't waste money on failing organisations. He likes winning and with no prospect of that in the near term he will pull out. Regardless of this the team is by all accounts a completely toxic environment at the moment.

[BenSiskri]

Radcliffe is shrewd and doesn't waste money on failing organisations. He likes winning and with no prospect of that in the near term he will pull out.

Have you heard of Manchester United? The team is a mess, the coach is confused tactically, and the ground is leaking, etc The only difference with Ineos is Utd bring in lots of revenue, from TV, merchandise, tickets, etc

It's actually hilarious....

[maquisard]

But that is the point, he has bought the united team but he is not cashing the blank cheques. It is the same with Ineos Grenadiers, their funding is under going reductions. He will not give more money at a failing cycling team. Particularly with Pogacar and Vingegaard there is no chance of winning the TdF.

[tymon_tm]

there are rumors about Kwiato leaving Ineos this winter as well. speaking in football terms, its sort of like Raul leaving Real or Keane ManU (yes, i'm that old..)

[Flasher]

First race today in the America's Cup loads of Ineos money being pumped into that, plus football, F1 etc. hardly surprising that cycling is taking a back seat.

[maquisard]

That is my point about Ratcliffe though, he will back success, not failure. Right now Ineos Grenadiers is a big failure.

[Karvalo]

Yep. And while the Yachting setup is a giant money pit vanity project, it brings in a huge amount of publicity and is a stunning technological showpiece even if they lose the final. Fo the football team whether it wins or loses, unlike a cycling team it is a massive financial asset. The previous owners extracted billions and billions from it despite presiding over a period of near constant decline and turmoil. There's less chance to do that right now because it was already hollowed out so much, but if it can be stabilised and brought back to being a genuine, reliable contender (not even winner) its value and earning potential will skyrocket again. Cycling at this level is totally different, it will only ever cost money and a team's value is completely ephemeral. It might not even be sellable except for parts.